The Fruit of Studying Scripture {Day 22}

Feelings of fear will come.

The last few days we have looked at Scripture as a main tool to help us not respond to fear’s directives, but instead to move towards freedom. Tuesday was Memorizing scripture, Wednesday was Meditating on it and today we turn to Studying it.

“We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thoughts and behavior.”  John Stott

The Word of God and the study of it, changes us. When I am growing in my knowledge of what the bible says, I am also learning how it intersects my life. However sometimes we don’t approach study with the goal of transformation.  I have had seasons where studying was more important than anything else. My motive for bible study however was to “get it right’. To be an expert. To make sure I’ve got my bases covered. In some ways, you could say that fear motivated my study.

But if my goal is to know and rely on God’s love (I John), then I engage my mind, heart and soul and attempt to understand and apply its truth to all parts of my life. I learn what it means to “run in the paths of his commands, for he has set my heart free.” It is less about gaining information and more about being open to transformation.

^“ Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” Colossians 3:16

We can study Scripture alone or with a group. We can study with a book or without. We just dive in and discover the fruit that the study of Scripture bears. The fruit of peace instead of fear. The fruit of walking with Jesus instead of on our own. The fruit of putting on Christ’s character instead of letting the world decide who I am.

I am currently in a study (on Fear Not of course) with a group of about 10 women. We are moms of babies and moms of grown children. We are married and single. We learn so much from each other and the unique ways the same scripture speaks to us in different seasons and experiences. Together we learn how “all Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness.” We leave our ten weeks together different women than we began it.  I love that. I love growing together and knowing we are not alone on this journey.

What are ways you allow the Word to have run of your house?

How do you give it plenty of room?

How do you study the bible?

Do you have favorite resources and tools (online and print)?

I am participating in Write 31 Days. Click right here to see all the amazing topics!  I am writing on 31 Beauty Full Days.  You can read the intro post here.  And you can also always click on the button on the sidebar to see all posts in the series.